Pressure sensitive weatherseal

ABSTRACT

A pressure-sensitive weatherseal is formed of a length of resilient material having a cross-section including a pair of legs at about a right angle to each other with the free ends of the legs being curved back on themselves and having arms extending outward from the curvatures at acute angles to the adjoining legs. The arms are flexibly disposed for repeatedly moving toward and away from the adjoining legs to act as a pressure-sensitive weatherseal.

Sept. 25, 1973 cQ c w 3,761,347

' PRESSURE-SENSITIVE WEATHERSEAL Filed April 7, 1971 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG IJ/ 2 '23 Q" 25 2'3 FIG.2

INVENTOR. CHARLES YACKIW BY (1 5 A44) ATTORNEYS Sept. 25, 1973 YACKM' 3,761,347

PRES SURE" SENS ITIVE WEATHERSEAL Filed April 7, 1971 2 Sheets-Shet z FIG. 6

INVENTOR. CHARLES YACKIW BY M *m ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,761,347 PRESSURE-SENSITIVE WEATHERSEAL Charles Yackiw, Fairport, N.Y., assignor to The Schlegel Manufacturing Company, Rochester, N.Y. Filed Apr. 7, 1971, Ser. No. 132,000 Int. Cl. 133% 3/04; E06b 7/23 US. Cl. 161--104 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A pressure-sensitive weatherseal is formed of a length of resilient material having a cross-section including a pair of legs at about a right angle to each other with the free ends of the legs being curved back on themselves .and having arms extending outward from the curvatures at acute angles to the adjoining legs. The arms are flexibly disposed for repeatedly moving toward and away from the adjoining legs to act as a pressure-sensitive weatherseal.

THE INVENTIVE IMPROVEMENT Pressure-sensitive weatherseals are generally known,

but have tended to be relatively expensive, diflicult to install, and less than satisfactory in operation. The invention involves a realization of the defects of previously known pressure-sensitive weatherseals, and of an improved way of making a pressure-sensitive weatherseal that engages a door or window in a compressive seal along one edge, and a wiping or sliding seal along another edge for improved sealing. The invention also aims at simplicity, economy, effectiveness, and serviceability in such a pressure-sensitive weatherseal, and the invention includes a weathersealformed so it can be extruded economically of a resilient, synthetic material and easily installed around a door or window.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The inventive weatherseal is formed of a single strip of resilient material extending for a desired length and having a specially shaped cross section. This includes a base formed of a pair of legs having an included angle of from about 90 to about 110. The free ends of the legs are curved'back on themselves on a curvature that has an inside diameter at least equal to the average thickness of the material. Arms extend outward from the curvatures and are angled from the adjoining legs by acute angles, and the free ends of the arms are rounded. The arms are flexibly disposed for repeated moving toward and away from the adjoining leg to serve as a pressure-sensitive weatherseal engaging a door or window along two seal lines. 7

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the inventive weatherseal;

FIG. 2 shows the weatherseal of FIG. 1 installed in a door or window casing;

FIG. 3 is a single arm version of the inventive weatherseal;

FIG. 4 shows the weatherseal of FIG. 3 installed in a door or window casing;

FIG. 5 is an alternative preferred embodiment of the inventive weatherseal; and

FIG. 6 shows the weatherseal of FIG. 5 installed in a door or window casing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 shows the cross-sectional shape of a preferred embodiment 20 of the inventive weatherseal. Sealing strip 20 is preferably extruded of a synthetic, resilient material in indefinite lengths that are cut as desired and fitted in place in a door or window frame or casing. The crosssectional shape shown in FIG. 1 is preferred for strip 20 as extruded before such installation.

Strip 20 includes base legs 21 and 22 having an included angle of from about to about 110, and preferably about as illustrated. This leaves legs 21 and 22 normally spread apart by slightly more than a right angle so that legs 21 and 22 are squeezed together slightly when strip 20 is fitted into a door or window frame 25 as shown in FIG. 2. Legs 21 and 22 then tend to press against casing 25 for a snug, smooth fit. Strip 20 is preferably installed in frame or casing 25 by staples 23, or tacks or adhesive (not shown).

The free ends of legs 21 and 22 are curved back on themselves on a curvature 26 having an inside diameter of at least the thickness of the material of strip 20. Curvature 26 then acts as a springy support at the ends of legs 21 and 22 and allows repeated flexure without any cracking such as would occur if curvature 26 had a smaller inside diameter or were merely an acute angle. Arms 27 extend outward from curvature 26 at an acute angle to adjoining legs 21 and 22, and such angle is preferably about 45. The free ends of arms 27 are rounded to form a thickened beading 28 that forms a straight, smooth surface preventing any ripples or undulations along the free ends of arms 27. Curvatures 26 support arms 27 for repeated flexure toward and away from adjoining legs 21 and 22. Inward, flexed positions of arms 27 are shown in FIG. 2 where a door or window 29 is shown pressed against arms 27. Arms 27 form an effective, pressuresensitive weatherseal against door or window 29 in any inward flexure so that door or window 29 need not be fitted to frame 25 with extreme accuracy.

Each of the arms 27 engages a separate edge of door or window 29 to form two seal lines as illustrated. One of the seal lines of an arm 27 is a compression fit pressing against an edge of door or window 29, and the other seal line is a wiping or sliding fit pressing against another edge of door or window 29. Hence, as door or window 29 moves to a closed position, it slides against one of the arms 27 and then presses against the other arm 27.

Such an arrangement keeps the seal lines close to a corner of door or window 29 so that Weatherstrip 20 does not interfere with latches, locks, or hinges, and need not be cut out to fit around these elements. This makes the installation of strip 20 relatively simple and convenient. Strip 20 is merely cut to the desired length of a door or window frame, squeezed into the corner of the frame, and secured with staples 23, or other fasteners such as tacks or adhesive. Arms 27 clear the corner of strip 20 to allow room for staples 23 as illustrated.

Arms 27 generally outline a hypotenuse of a triangle that is approximately a right isosceles triangle for the preferred cross section of strip 20, especially as installed in frame 25. However, arms 27 can differ in their angles to legs 21 and 22, and both arms 27 and legs 21 and 22 can be of different lengths if desired.

A single-arm version of the inventive weatherseal is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 for use along the tops of doors that are hollow at the top, or along the hinge edge of doors that are especially tightly fitted in their frames. Weatherseal 10 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is similar to weatherseal 20 in having a pair of legs 11 and 12 normally disposed to have an included angle of about 90 to and preferably about 100 as shown. An adhesive backing 14 is coated on legs 11 and 12 for securing strip 10 in place in a door or window frame 15 as shown in FIG. 4. A curvature 16 is formed at the free end of leg 12 to curve back for approximately as illustrated on a curvature having an inside diameter at least as large as the average thickness of the material of strip 10. Ann 17 extends obliquely outward from curvature 16 at preferably a 45 angle to leg 12 as illustrated, and the free end of arm 17 is rounded to have a thickened beading 18.

Weatherseal strip 30 as shown in FIGS. and 6, is similar to weatherseal 20 in having a pair of legs 31 and 32 normally disposed to have an included angle about 90 to 110, and preferably about 100 as shown. A curvature 36 is formed at the free ends of legs 31 and 32 to curve back for approximately 180 as illustrated on a curvature having an inside diameter at least as large as the average thickness of the material of strip 30. Arms 34 and 35 extend outward from curvatures 36 with arm 35 and leg 32 being substantially longer respectively than arm 34 and leg 31. Arm 34 is preferably angled from leg 31 by about 45, and arm 35 is disposed at an acute angle of somewhat less than 45 from leg 32. The relative lengths and angles of arms 34 and 35 are variable as desired.

The ends of arms 34 and 35 are rounded to form a thickened beading 38 for engaging a door 39 in frame 40 as shown in FIG. 6. Arm 35 preferably forms the wiping or sliding seal along door 39 as it closes in the direction of the arrow, and arm 34 preferably forms the compressive seal against an edge of door 39 when door 39 reaches its closed position.

Another difference in weatherseal 30 is its method of mounting. Door frame 40 is formed with a slot 41 for receiving projection 42 having a barb 43 that is wedged and locked in slot 41. Strip 30 is then mounted in frame 40 merely by pressing projection 42 into slot 41 as shown in FIG. 6.

Resilient leg and mount arrangements of strips 10, 20 and 30 can be interchanged and varied as desired. For example, strip 30 can be locked by projection 42 and be mounted by staples or adhesive if desired. Also, the lengths and angles of resilient arms and base support legs can be varied as desired to fit different doors or windows. Relatively long base leg 32 and resilient arm 35 are sometimes preferred as the sliding or wiping seal arm for a door that is relatively loosely fitted in its casing, to ensure that arm 35 extends far enough outward from base leg 32 for a secure engagement with door 39.

Several other means can be used for securing weatherseals and in place around a door or window, and these will be known to persons skilled in the art. Also, many satisfactory materials are available for forming weatherseals 10, 20 and 30, and these materials are preferably springy metals or resilient, synthetic resins. Those skilled in the art will appreciate the advantages of extruding weatherseals 10, 20 and 30 in indefinite lengths and will realize that many cross-sectional shapes can be used within the spirit of the invention.

Persons wishing to practice the invention should remember that other embodiments and variations can be adapted to particular circumstances. Even though one point of view is necessarily chosen in describing and defining the invention, this should not inhibit broader or related embodiments being beyond the semantic orientation of this application but falling within the spirit of the invention. For example, persons skilled in the art will understand the adaptation of the inventive concepts to various specific weatherseal circumstances.

I claim:

1. A weatherseal formed as a single strip of resilient plastic material extending for a desired length and having generally uniform thickness and a cross section including:

(a) a base formed of a pair of legs having an included angle of from about to about (b) the free ends of said legs being curved back on themselves on a curvature extending for about and having an inside diameter exceeding said uniform thickness of said material;

(c) a self-supporting arm extending obliquely outward from each of said inside diameter curvatures and angled from the adjoining one of said legs by an acute angle;

(d) said inside diameter curvatures forming a hinge line for flexure of said arms relative to said base;

(e) said arms being flexibly disposed for repeatedly moving toward and away from said adjoining legs;

(f) the outward facing sides of said arms being straight and smooth from said inside diameter curvatures to the free ends of said arms to afford a smooth, wiping seal along the lengths of said arms; and

(g) said free ends of said arms curving inward smoothly away from said straight, outward facing sides to form a thickened beading extending inward to afford a straight edge along said free ends so either of said arms can serve as a wiping seal or a compressive seal.

2. The weatherseal of claim 1 wherein said legs and said arms are generally arranged to outline a right isosceles triangle.

3. The weatherseal of claim 1 wherein one of said legs is substantially longer than the other of said legs.

4. The weatherseal of claim 1 wherein said included angle between said legs is about 100.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,164,870 1/1965 Harms et al. 49-495 2,560,408 7/1951 Bradley 49495 X 2,591,833 4/ 1952 Kreimendahl 49495 3,038,217 6/ 1962 Harris 161- 102 3,150,421 9/1964 Lickert 29693 X 3,206,246 9/ 1965 Williams 49-49 5 X 3,514,916 6/1970 Hoverman 161-100 X 3,665,646 5/1972 Niemanns 49-495 HAROLD ANSHER, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

